What Are the Dangers of Choke Chains?

When a dog is pulling or jumping during a walk, many owners look to corrective collars to help solve their canine's behavior problems. Choke chains and prong collars are veteran tools in the dog owner's toolbox. When used incorrectly, though, corrective collars can have negative effects on dogs, causing injury, aggression and other behavior problems.

  1. Injury

    • A sudden injury can cause permanent damage.

      When a dog pulls forward and the owner yanks back, a choke collar will tighten suddenly around the dog's neck. This metal restraint can cause a variety of minor injuries such as bruising around the neck, hair loss and headaches. Increased force can cause more serious injuries, such as whiplash, a crushed trachea, damaged larynx, and even fractured vertebrae. Any type of neck or spinal cord injury can cause paralysis or neurological problems as well.

    Confusion

    • A dog might not understand why it's being corrected.

      Often when choke chains are used to correct a dog's behavior, the owner will tug on the leash after a dog has already misbehaved. Since the attention span of dogs varies with each breed and individual, this correction comes too late. The dog's attention may have wandered, or it may be looking at something else. The dog may be confused by the correction that can result in behavior problems as the dog tries to sort out the owner's expectations. According to dog expert David Reinecker, creating an association between pain and an owner can lead to greater problems with a dog.

    Aggression

    • Dogs in pain can become aggressive toward the perceived source of pain, and it doesn't take long for the association to be made. An aggressive dog is even more difficult to manage than a dog who pulls during walks. If the dog pulls each time it sees another dog, and is corrected with the chain, it may associate other dogs with the pain of the collar, and become aggressive toward other animals. A dog may also associate the collar with the sensation of being strangled, and act aggressively against the collar, squirming to get out of it.

    Behavior Problems

    • A dog may start to avoid the owner and the walk.

      A dog that is confused and feels helpless to control the corrections it is receiving will likely develop emotional and physical problems. Behavior such as aggression and avoidance can compound to create a serious issue for owners who are improperly using their collars. A dog that previously only pulled during walks may now avoid walks altogether. It may whine or cry, hide from owners, act aggressively toward other dogs or people, or develop other behavior associated with stress and anxiety.